(optionally 17-alkylated) 1beta-methyl-5alpha-androstane-1alpha,17beta-diols,delta**2 derivatives corresponding and esters thereof



United States Patent O 3,471,526 (OPTIONALLY 17-ALKYLATED) lfi-METHYL-Sa- ANDROSTANE-laJZB-DIOLS, A DERIVATIVES CORRESPONDING AND ESTERS THEREOF Paul D. Klimstra, Northbrook, Ill., assignor to G. D. Searle & Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Mar. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 620,616

Int. Cl. C07c 169/20, 169/22; A61k 17/00 US. Cl. 260-397.4 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Novel pharmacologically useful steroid derivatives characterized by anabolic, androgenic and antiestrogenic properties and by a lot-hydroxy-lfi-methyl function. These novel compounds are prepared by reaction of a methyl organometallic reagent with the l-keto or the 1,17-diketo starting material, subsequent oxidation of the l7-hydroxy function to afford the corresponding 17-keto compounds, acylation to yeild the desired esters and, alternatively, reduction of the A derivatives to produce the saturated A-ring compounds.

The present invention is concerned with novel steroidal derivatives characterized by a la-hydroxy-lfi-methyl moiety and, in particular, with (optionally 17-alkylated) 1,8-methyl-a-androstane-1u,17fi-diols, A derivatives corresponding and esters thereof represented by the following structural formula X CH3 CH3 l I l In that representation X is symbolic of a carbonyl or radical of the formula wherein Z can be hydrogen or a lower radical, Y is hydrogen when Z is lower alkyl, Y can be hydrogen or lower alkanoyl when Z is hydrogen and the dotted line indicates the optional presence of a 2,3-double bond.

The lower alkyl radicals denoted by Z are typified by methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl and the branched chain radicals thereof.

Representative of the lower alkanoyl radicals encompassed by Y are formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valeryl, caproyl, heptanoyl, and the branched chain groups isomeric therewith.

The instant compounds are conveniently produced by processes involving the use as starting materials of the 3,471,526 Patented Oct. 7, 1969 I/ CH 1 A being a carbonyl, fi-hydroxymethylene or m-(lower alkyl)-fl-hydroxymethylene group and the dotted line indicating an optional 2,3-double bond.

When a suitable l-keto starting material is contacted with a methyl organometallic reagent, the instant novel compounds are produced. A particularly suitable process is specifically illustrated by the reaction of 17fl-hydroxy- 5a-androstan-1-one with methyl magnesium bromide in tetrahydrofuran at the reflux temperature to afford, after hydrolysis of the Grignard adduct, 118-methyl 5a-androstane-1a,l7p-diol.

The instant 17-keto compounds are conveniently obtained by oxidation of the corresponding 17-hydroxy substances. The aforementioned 15-methyl-5a-androstane- 1m,17;9-diol, for example, is contacted with aqueous chromic acid in acetone to yield lm-hydroxy-lfi-methyl- 5a-androstan-l7-one.

Acylation of the instant l7-hydroxy compounds affords the correpsonding 17-(lower alkanoates). As a specific example, 1fl-methyl-5a-androstane-1a,l7fi-diol is contacted with acetic anhydride and pyridine to produce I S-methyI-Se-androstane-10;,17fl-di0l 17-acetate.

An alternate method for production of the instant saturated A-n'ng compounds involves catalytic reduction of the corresponding instant A derivatives. A convenient method is exemplified by the hydrogenation of IBJh-dimethyl- Sa-androst-Z-ene-111,17 8-di0l in ethanol at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalytic quantity of ruthenium oxide to yield, 113,17a-dimethyl-5aandrostane-la,17B-diol.

The compounds of the present invention exhibit valuable pharmacological properties. They are hormonal and anti-hormonal agents, for example, as is demonstrated by their anabolic, androgenic and anti-estrogenic properties. They possess, furthermore, the particular advantages of lacking sideeffects, i.e., progestational and estrogenic, displayed by related hormonal compositions.

The invention will appear more fully from the examples which follow. These examples are given by way of illustration only and are not to be constructed as limiting the invention either in spirit or in scope as many modifications both in materials and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In these examples temperatures are given in degrees centigrade C.) and quantities are expressed in parts by weight unless otherwise noted.

Example 1 To a stirred solution containing 125 parts by volume of ethereal 3 M methyl magnesium bromide dissolved in parts of tetrahydrofuran is added a solution of.5 parts of l7-;3-hydroxy-5a-androstan-l-one in 90 parts of tetrahydrofuran. The ether is removed by distillation and the residual reaction mixture is heated at the reflux temperature for about 16 hours, then cooled and poured carefully into a mixture of saturated aqueous ammonium chloride and ice. Extraction of that aqueous mixture with ether afiords an organic extract, which is washed several times with-water, then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate containing decolorizing carbon. Distillation of the solvent under reduced pressure affords the solid crude product, which is purified by recrystallization from aqueous methanol to yield 1fl-methyI-Sa-andmstane-101,175- diol, melting at about 178-180. It is characterized further by an optical rotation, in chloroform, of +31 and by the following structural formula C H; HOfij Example 2 To a stirred solution containing 100 parts by volume of 3 M methyl magnesium bromide dissolved in 90 parts of tetrahydrofuran is added a solution of 4 parts of 17 phydroxy-5a-androst-2-en-l-one in 90 parts of tetrahydrofuran. The ether is removed by distillation and the re maining solution is heated at the reflux temperature for about 16 hours, then cooled and poured into a mixture melting at about 165-167". It displays an optical rotation, in chloroform, of +73.5 and is represented by the following structural formula CH3 rro--- Example 3 A solution of 1.1 parts of 17fl-hydroxy-il7ot-methyl-5mandrostan-l-one in 27 parts of tetrahydrofuran is added in one portion to a solution containing 30 parts of 3'M methyl magnesium bromide dissolved in 27 parts of tetrahydrofuran. The resulting reaction mixture is distilled in order to remove ether, then is heated at the reflux temv 'androstane-1a,17fi-diol, melting at about 180182.5. An 0 optical rotationjin chloroform, of --72.5 is observed.

This compound is represented by the following structural formula Example 4 To a solution of 3 parts of 17fl-hydroxy-17a.-methyl-5aandrost-Z-en-l-ohe in 68 parts of tetrahydrofuran is added a solution containing 75 parts by volume of 3 M methyl magnesium bromide dissolved in 68 parts of tetrahydrofuran. Removal of the ether by distillation under reduced pressure affords the reaction mixture which is heated 'at the reflux temperature for about 16 hours. It is then poured into ice and saturated aqueous ammonium chloridel The resulting precipitate is collected by filtratidn, washed on the'filter with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, then recrystallized from acetone to yield 113, 17m-dimethyl-5a-androst-2-ene-1m,l7fi-diol, melting at about 222-223 and exhibiting an optical rotation, in chloroform, of +51.

Example 5 To a solution of 2 parts of lfl-methyl-5a-androstane- 1 m,l7fi-diol in 20 parts of acetone is added dropwise an aqueous solution, 8 N in chromium trioxide and 8 N in sulfuric acid, until the oxidant is present in excess. A small quantity of isopropyl alcohol is added at that point in order to destroy the excess reagent. The resulting mixture is poured into ice and water and the precipitated crude product is collected by filtration, washed with water, then dried in air. Recrystallization of that crude product from methanol containing decolorizing carbon results in pure 1a-hydroxy-lfl-methyl-Sa-andmstan-l7- one, melting at about 195197. It exhibits an optical rotation, in chloroform of +1ll and is characterized further by the following structural formula Example 6 To a solution of 1 part of lfi-methyl-Sa-andrOst-Z-enela,17p-diol in 12 parts of acetone is added with stirring an aqueous solution, 8 N in chromium trioxide and 8 N in sulfuric acid, until the orange color of the reagent per sists. The excess reagentis destroyed by the addition of a small quantity of isopropyl alcohol and the precipitated inorganic. salts are removed by filtration through diatomaceous earth. The resulting filtrate is concentrated partially, then is diluted with water and cooled. Needle-like crystals of'the crude product are isolated by filtration, then purified by recrystallization from aqeous acetone to yield pure lu-hydroxy-lB-methyI-Sa-andrOSt-Z-en-17-one, melting at about 113-116. It exhibits an'optical rotation, in chloroform, of +l49 and is represented by the following structural formula CH3 I OH:

Example 7 By substituting an equivalent quantity of l7u-ethyl-17fihydroxy-a-androstan-1-one and otherwise proceeding according to the processes described in Example 3, there is produced 17a-ethyl-1 8-methyl-5a-androstane-la,l7B-diol.

Example 8 The substitution of an equivalent quantity of 17aethyl-l7B-hydroxy-5a-androst-2-en-l-one in the procedure of Example 4 results in 17a-ethyl-1fl-methyl-5ot-androst-2- I16-1oc,l7,B-diOl.

Example 9 A solution containing 1 part of 1,8-methyl-5u-androstane-la,17B-diol, 10 parts of acetic anhydride and 20 parts of pyridine is stored at room temperature for about 16 hours, then is cooled and poured carefully into a large volume of water. Extraction of that aqueous mixture with benzene affords an organic solution, which is dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure, thus affording LB-methyl-Saandrostane-1a,17B-diol 17-acetate.

Example 10 By substituting an equivalent quantity of IB-methyl-Suandrost-Z-ene-la,175-diol and otherwise proceeding according to the process described in Example 9, there is produced 1,B-methyl-5a-androst-2-ene-1a,l7B-di0l 17- acetate.

Example 11 When an equivalent quantity of propionic anhydride is substituted in the procedure of Example 9, there is obtained lfi-methyl-fia-androstane-1a, 17fi-diol l7-propionate.

Example 12 The reaction of equivalent quantities of 1,8-methyl-5aandrost-Z-ene-lu,l7fi-diol and propionic anhydride according to the procedure described in Example 9 results in lfi-methyl-Sa-andrOst-Z-ene-1a,17,8-diol 17-pr0pionate.

What is claimed is:

1- A compound of the formula CH3 CH3 J wherein X is selected from the group of radicals consisting of carbonyl and those of the following formula 6 wherein Z is a member of the class consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl, Y is hydrogen when Z is lower alkyl, Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkanoyl when Z is hydrogen and the dotted line indicates the optional presence of a 2,3-double bond.

2. As in claim 1, a compound of the formula ---(lower alkyl) wherein the dotted line indicates the optional presence of a 2,3-double bond.

3. As in claim 1, a compound of the formula 0 C O(lower alkyl) CH3 l CH3 wherein the dotted line indicates the optional presence of a 2,3-double bond.

4. As in claim 1, a compound of the formula "-(lower alkyl) CH3 CH3 HO l I x References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1968 Counsell et al 260397.5 6/1966 Klimstra 260397.4

LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner E. G. LOVE, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 260-397.5, 999

5g; UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE g gERTIFICATE ()F CORRECTION PatW 3, 7 526 Dated October 7, 1969 Inventor(s) Paul D. Klimstra It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, Claim L formula should read Jib Has) Fun: SEALED UAW 6 "1918 Atteat:

Edward M. Flew 1 WILLIAM E. saauym, m, Attesting Officer comisaioner of Patents 

